Question:
Need to replace desktop for 11 year old.. plays games like Rome / warhammer 40k etc. I saw this SYR-DIY-VEN5 code in .. which is a part built gaming machine :- my questions are - does this just need HD / graphics / sound and OS ? Anything else ? Is it a good deal and how much would I need to spend on top of the £305 + delivery to get a decent machine (within reason) ?
Thank in advance !
ps he needs to do homework on it as well!
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Aria EXTREME Gamer System Kit
Aria's innovative outlook on what we think you need and desire continues with the introduction of the EXTREME GAMER SYSTEM KIT, and you will definitely want one of these!
AMD Athlon64 3000 Venice
Socket 939
Cache Memory - L2 512 KB
Clock Speed - 1.8 GHz
CPU Speed (MHz) - 3000
Features - HyperTransport technology, AMD64 technology, integrated memory controller, Enhanced Virus Protection.
Corsair Value Select 2x512MB PC3200
Corsair is the leader in the field of performance memory for intensive computing such as gaming and high traffic servers! With Value Select, Corsair brings the same focus on reliability and quality to an affordably priced desktop module
Bus Speed (MHz) - 400
CAS - CL33
Size (Mb) - 512 x 2
Speed - PC3200
Type - 184pin DDR Memory
Phantasy MIDI Tower Silver
Brand new chassis to Aria, the Phantasy series cases are ideally suited as a gaming machine or for an ultra modern system which can be loaded with cathode tubes, colour fans, temperature sensors and the latest modding gadgetry.
Gigabyte K8N-PRO-SLi Motherboard
The GA-K8N Pro-SLI provides the best cost-performance value to AMD Athlon64 and SLI platform. Supporting the latest AthlonTM64 X2 dual core processors, this platform is capable of multi-tasking and delivers outstanding performance. With the radically innovative SLI technology, GA-K8N Pro-SLI has the ability of connecting two SLI-ready PCI Express graphics cards and offers blistering graphics performance.
EZCool 600W ATX PSU
Compatible for Intel P4 and AMD/ XP , meets Intel v.2.03- Enhanced +12V for PIV
2 x Ball bearing fan and noise killer for quiet PC
Switch able voltage between 110-230V, rear power on/off, power down
Over voltage and circuit protection
100% burn in and Hi pot tested CE/TUV/FCC/UL/PFC approval
Built in EMI filter on power outlet
120mm Case Fan Xilence Red
Inexpensive and efficient SILENT 80mm case fan, with RED fins!
Dimensions - 120x120x25
Voltage - 12 VDC
Start voltage - 6 VDC
Power consumption - 1,2 W
Rated current - 0,10 A
Fan speed - 1.400 rpm +/- 10%
Max. air flow - 68 CFM
Air pressure - 2,3 mmAq
Noise level - 21,2 dB/A
Weight - 140 g
Fluorescent Light Kit Blue
Lower power consumption, thinner and brighter than a regular neon light rod!
Answers:
No it looks like a barebones package i.e it doesn't include HDD, graphics card or OS - you should be looking to double the money at least for that as well.
Personally I think you can get a better deal at Novatech - you can get a 3200 processor and an nForce 4 chipset mobo for that money - take a look here:
etc.
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Thanks = most sites seem to give advice on building from scratch which I just would not attempt. I'm hoping to get 11 year old involved in basically finishing off the best bits. Need to get off and google Novatech reviews as unfamiliar with brand. So what are the main benefits of the Nforce chipset against the Gigabyte K8N-PRO-SLi, and will this affect my choice of graphics card?
Answers:
Novatech is an supplier not a brand as such I've been using them for years they come recommended for quality and price as anyone around here will tell you I'm sure.
The Gigabyte board has an nForce4 chipset too, sorry I didn't notice that before.
It doesn't make any difference to the graphics card just choose whatever you want.
Answers:
If your replacing a system that is 11 years old I think you could get almost any system even one thats just aimed towards the office market that will have a vastly superior graphics card to the one your replacing. Also any system that you can buy today will be suitable for homework.
If you want to spend as little as possible maybe you should wait for a good deal from Dell or PC World or even second hand, you should be able to get a 1 gig PC, 256 mb ram, 20 gb HD for £100 or less.
On the build your own route don`t forget you will also need an operating system, maybe use an older copy such as windows 2000 or source your own , open office is a free office program.
Again the graphics card area, every card available today will easily play the games you have mentioned that you play on your 11 year old system.
Also on board graphics are built into the graphics, these although looked down on by serious gamers are suitable for reasonable performance certainly superior to an 11 year old system, in fact on that it may not even be an AGP graphics card but a less able PCI card.
I would certainly recommend motherboards with on board graphics aswell as on board sound, oboard LAN etc. On the aria site check out the small form factor Shuttle systems. I have one of these, they are a fantastic little system, they perform very well, look great, small size, transportable, quite quiet and are an all in one system, the graphics card is also upgradable to a normal one.
P.S. Serious gamers will think very little on spending £600 plus for a PAIR of graphics cards, 100`s on superfast memory, the fastest hard drive (not the biggest) . Oh, I nearly forgot the best performing monitor they afford.
Answers:
Sorry vertical - the 11 year old is a pre-pubescent male and not my an old PC!
My fault really shouldn't talk in shorthand.. I have read your advice though. Actually the system he has now is a Windows 98 Dell from 1999 - he never uses it so now hogs our PC. I was looking for something that would appeal to him to semi-build. I thought a snazzy looking case ( well to him maybe) with pretty blue gaming lights etc would do the trick but not wanting to spend over £1000 more like £600.
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Do you know anyone who has / can build a PC themselves. It's not really that difficult - a bit like a big meccano set. If you did you could get them to build it with your son's assistance. You could build a pretty decent PC for £600 (not sure how good for serious gaming though!) and the difference between that an an old Windows 98 Dell would be remarkable!
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Well I am sure OH and myself could do this .. but at the moment another 'project' might be the straw that broke ... you know the rest. Thanks anyway.
Answers:
Anyone else care to comment ? I'm trying to semi-build something for youngest - for gaming mostly - really don't want to start from scratch but do need to keep costs down .. preferably a 256 graphics card .. the price has gone up today but as there's no rush that's OK. Just trying to find a way to involve youngest son, who is admittedly pretty good with electrical circuits, to build something really cool!.
I did spend some time looking at various buildyourownpc sites ... and I think it's be too much for first timer.
All ideas welcome.
Answers:
Hmmm, yeah for that kind of money I'd build something myself. Can understand if you don't quite feel comfortable doing so, it can be daunting with so much expense.
With regards to parts, my thoughts are:
- Don't get sucked in by all 256mb graphics cards. It's only beneficial on the cards that can handle that amount. That's generally cards that are £130ish+. A good "bang for your buck" card is the GeForce 6600GT.
- Go for AMD. Get an AMD Athlon 64 (make sure it's socket 939 not 754). AMD's perform much better than there Intel equivalents for gaming (and most other tasks in fact). They also run cooler, and use a lot less power. Something like an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (socket 939) would be good.
- If you do have the chance of buying the case and psu, get something decent. A good bargain is the Antec Sonata II case. It comes with a decent 450W power supply (probably better than the 600W one you mentioned). The case is very nicely put together, runs near silent and looks nice (solid black case with a piano finish, like you get on the big grand piano's). Very sleek.
- Get 1gb of ram. Quite a common amount to get these days.
The deal isn't anything special. You could build equivalent better for the same price, which usual isn't the case. Usually building yourself costs a little more but you gain quality. If it costs the same as, then it wouldn't be deal I'd go for.
Answers:
Wolfman - you practically described the PC I just built for myself!
If it's any help HLK, my full spec was
Motherboard - Asus A8V Deluxe (No Wifi)
Processor - AMD (Venice) Athlon 64 3500+
RAM - Kingston 1GB DDR PC3200 400MHz (2 x 512)
Graphics Card - Sapphire Radeon 9550 256MB DDR AGP8x TV-Out DVI-I
OS - Microsoft OEM Windows XP Home Edition inc SP2
HD - Maxtor Diamondmax SATA 120gb
Case - Antec Sonata II
DVD - LG GSA-4167BAL 16x DVD±RW
This was my second build so I'm by no means experienced.
The total cost came to £532 from Ebuyer but it is just a basic graphics card at £37 + VAT. It all went together fairly easily, with only two problems. The usual scary moment when you attach the heatsink on top of the processor (not helped by the fact that I didn't read the instructions properly.) The second problem was a loading Windows XP on to the SATA hard drive - one that was easily overcome when I got proper instructions from the Asus website (the manual was very vague on the subject).
I can't say how it would cope with gaming - I'd probably need a better graphics card, but it is lightning fast.
Answers:
Hi,
I agree with most of what has been said here, make sure you get AMD and a socket 939.
However, the most important things you will need for gaiming are 1gb of ram (nothing less will do for games like call of duty 2) and a decent graphics card. Nvidia are my choice, make sure you get a 6600gt at the least, otherwise you will be spending money in the wrong areas.
Cheers,
Olly
Answers:
Thanks Wolfman this is just what I was looking for - I think I'm OK on the graphics side of things - we run a geforce go 6800 on the Dell 9300 laptop and I know that can handle everything up to now so I'll use that as a benchmark. It's once you get into fans, psu's and cooling that my mind goes to mush. OH still trying to explain to me why it's fine to have dozens of things plugged into trailing sockets in the home office but not OK for me to have an iron and a fan heater plugged into a double socket. I'll certainly go off and look at the case and the other bits you suggest. Rugrat # 2 seems to have been playing more PC games since Mrs Santa ddin't get him an Xbox 360. This is my penence. The bottom line is it has to be COOL!
Answers:
Right - head buzzing - done lots of searching , research etc but not really finding anything that suits re the 'part-built' route - which was and still is part of my overall objective. Seems I have to build from scratch or buy an of the shelf PC.
First option is definately not on the cards at the moment and I've now come to a dead stop on the second one. Thanks though for your input I think he'll have to wait until either we have more free time or the market can provide what I need.
Answers:
Hi HLK
Look at getting a barebones system these are part built in that - the motherboard, power supply unit (PSU) and will be already screwed together and power cables in place. All you have to do then is .... ( but follow the order on the instruction u get on the sheet - not my rambling )
put the CPU in - make sure you identify the corner with the notch/lil triangle so it is correctly orientated in the socket. Seating the CPU heat sink and fan may be a lil difficult first time - just need pressure on the clip..
Pushing in the ram and cards is just a process of making sure that they are in the right slots and the right way wrong.
The disk (HD/DVD) drives just need to be put in place 4/6 screws at most to a carrier and put into place - if you go for SATA the cables are simple push fit.
Some cases are even screwless
Scan do bundle mixes every week - sometimes with a system with a CPU, heat sink and memory and may be a drive but not this week. What they have this week is a high-end (ie expensive) gaming case with PSU as one deal #4 and some internal bundles #3 & #7 - but these will require more putting together
But as it is a project just keep looking just be aware that Scan charge 10 quid minimum del - no matter the size of the order so best to get it all together. If they part sel - it is still just one price.
- best get a 939 board - venice core -
- just so it does read like a Scan ad....
You have not mentioned what operating system you are going for but OEM XP is the more economical option - OEM inplies you have to buy a computer part with it.
Hope I didn't add to the buzzing ....
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Hope I didn't add to the buzzing
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Answers:
building a pc is much more easy than you think! The bits will only connect with the right bits. I am sure there are many people here that would help you,
Olly